Happy Martin Luther King Day!

I can’t help but think about the price this man paid to have a day named after him. With a quick google: “What does it take to have a Federal Holiday named after you?”, I found that it wasn’t an easy task. Creating a Martin Luther King Day met with much controversy.

Two of the main arguments by opponents were that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive, and that a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to tradition. MLK had never held public office. Only two other figures have national holidays in the U.S. honoring them: George Washington and Christopher Columbus. But President Ronald Reagan approved the creation of the holiday, signing it into existence on November 2, 1983. Aren’t we so glad he did? The first official Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, began January 20, 1986, the third Monday in January.

You’re welcome. Now you know the answer to that question, too. Martin Luther King Jr. lived an extraordinary life. At 33, he was pressing the case of civil rights with President John Kennedy. At 34, he awakened the nation with his “I Have a Dream” speech. At 35, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. At 39, he was assassinated, but he left a legacy of hope and inspiration that continues today. I’m one of those he inspired.

Those years were some of my first awareness of the atrocities of racial discrimination and the civil rights riots that made us feel like our country was falling apart. It really was. For the love of God, how could this happen to “one nation UNDER GOD”?

I remember how this honorable, passionate, bold, and courageous “Baptist minister” gave his life to change our world. I remember his words just before his assassination in 1968: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” MLK was in good company with those words. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said “Love your enemies! Bless them that curse you! Do good to them that hate you! Pray for them who spitefully use you and persecute you!” Doesn’t that sound preposterous? How can I possibly love someone that hurts me or rejects me or curses me? How impossible those words seem to be!

Only through the supernatural power of LOVE — God’s love — agape (unconditional love), can it be possible. Relentless passion in pursuit of a dream is what men AND women like MLK are made of and look what one life did to change his world. To think and speak on behalf of others is noteworthy, to serve and act on behalf of others is heroic, but what do we call someone who gave his words, actions, and life on behalf of others?

I read an article by Dr. King’s niece, Alveda King, who said “His message didn’t die with him. If anything, his message of agape love (God’s unconditional love) is more relevant than ever for our country. My uncle would want modern Americans to remember to love one another. I believe the most important thing is that we know John 3:16, that we know the love of God.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of few people in history who profoundly changed the world in such a short period of time. He fought the good fight and kept the faith. Lord, help us to love relentlessly and pursue the dreams to make this world a better place for just having been here. Thank you, Rev. Dr. King, for your example of “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)